23 posts tagged “politics”

For awhile now, I've been planning to write a post on my experience with Canadian health care. I can't say I've been thrilled with the care here; overall, I feel that my medical interactions, while certainly professional, have been impersonal and somewhat unpleasant. However, a recent illness while in the States has made me appreciate what we have here a lot more.

You see, I was never without health care while living in Minnesota. But during our travels in the U.S. last week, I was indeed without insurance. And then I got really sick. In bed with a fever and chills, far from my country of residence, I found the greatest worry I had was whether or not I would eventually need to see a doctor. How much would that cost? Could we afford it? What if we couldn't?

The Canadian health care system is far from perfect, to be sure. I am currently on one of those much-hyped waiting lists (for an MRI to look at my back pain). But the truth is, had we been in Vancouver, I could have gone in to see a doctor for my symptoms without any problem. And when we finally arrived back home, that's exactly what I did. Thirty minutes of waiting at a walk-in clinic, and I was able to leave with a clear diagnosis (bronchitis) and not a penny less in my pocket. Thank you, universal health care!

It's incredible to me that the U.S. - so often called the greatest country in the world - does not give me, a lifetime citizen, that simple option. And when I think about people with severe and life-threatening health problems facing the same can-I-can't-I debate of whether they can afford to seek care, it absolutely breaks my heart.

So although I may find the Canadian health care flawed, I have to admit: it still kicks the ass of our current, broken system in the States. I really hope meaningful reform gets passed in the U.S., and soon. Yet even if it does, without single-payer on the table, you can bet we'll be looking at our travel insurance options for the next extended trip to MN.

Via Talking Points Memo:

1)       As part of a charity fundraiser for United Way, Shane’s work held a winter Olympics competition on Friday.  The featured events were the biathlon, luge and curling.  Shane participated in the final sport on that list, helping his team to earn a bronze(-wrapped chocolate) curling medal!

2)      One of Shane’s co-workers invited him us to a wine and cheese party on Saturday night.  We enjoyed the opportunity to socialize and meet some new people, although I must admit my introverted self was equally excited to simply spend time in a Vancouver house (in the Point Grey neighbourhood, no less).

3)      Saturday was also the day of Vancouver’s local election (for mayor, city councillors, park commissioners and school trustees).  In the months leading up to the election, the major centre-left parties joined together in hopes of defeating the centre-right incumbent party.  The result was a thorough trouncing of the (centre-right) NPA, much to our delight.  Congratulations, Mayor Robertson!

4)      We used our Nexus cards again when we traveled down to Washington on Sunday.  The wait at the Peace Arch crossing was estimated at 25 minutes, but we FLEW down the Nexus lane (passing long lines of cars on the left) and waited for one car before clearing the border.  The way back was much the same, with a projected half-hour line-up that we sped past to enter Canada five minutes later.  Those pieces of plastic are totally worth the $50 (for five years) price tag!

5)      The reason we went to Washington this weekend was to help Ian (and his roommate Noah) move into a new apartment.  Combined with our recent trip to have dinner with him last week and his plans to come up for the (U.S.) Thanksgiving, that makes for a total of three times I will see him in one month.  It’s a little mind-boggling to realize that’s more than I used to see him in one year.

6)      Since the Canadian Thanksgiving takes place in mid-October, Shane and I have found that there is no real buffer between Halloween and Xmas here.  Once the first of November hit, the seasonal decorations, music and lights went up everywhere.  Weird.

7)      One thing I really appreciate about this month is that it marks the beginning of low season for tourism.  I’ve found the extra level of quiet (not to mention the extra space along the seawall) quite enjoyable when out and about.

8)      On the other hand, November and December are also the rainiest months of the year.  So we have definitely been getting a taste of the “real” Vancouver the past couple of weeks, with plenty of wet (and extremely windy) days.  I can’t say I mind that much, though, as I’m still convinced it beats dealing with snow!

9)      The coming winter will bring us something awesomely unexpected: an upgraded bathroom.  We attended an apartment tenants’ meeting last night to learn about water pipe renovations planned for November-January, and it turns out the plumbing fix will include replacing our current pink bathtub and shower tiles, and may even extend to a new sink, medicine cabinet and flooring!  This definitely makes the inconvenience of several months of construction seem worth it in the end.

10)   Finally, I’m sure some of you have been wondering what exactly I’ve been up to in my not-yet-working life.  And while I am hesitant to give the specifics of my plans until they are firmly in place, I can say that I am taking concrete steps this week to start a process of moving forward, and I look forward to sharing that with you soon.

I cannot adequately describe what a privilege it was to witness the election of Barack Obama as our 44^th President last night.   But I can say I will forever remember that moment as one marked with profound joy and jubilant celebration.

Shane and I chose to spend the evening with other Democrats Abroad (and some friendly Canadians) at the Yaletown Brewery in downtown Vancouver.  We arrived around 3:45 p.m. and plopped ourselves down at a long table with a few other Americans.  By 4, our table was full and there was nowhere left to sit.  By 5, the place was packed wall-to-wall with bodies.  The room was constantly buzzing with political discussion, and Canadian reporters, photographers and videographers were EVERYWHERE.  Once the official results began rolling in, the energetic crowd wildly cheered every projected Democratic win and booed every loss.

All eyes were on that Electoral College count.  When the CNN clock started ticking off the final seconds until the Western polls closed – ensuring an Obama victory – we all counted down the final ten seconds like it was New Year’s Eve.  And moments later, when Wolf Blitzer called the election for Senator Barack Obama, the crowd erupted with shouts and whistles and hugging and crying, with people throwing their arms up in victory and clapping until their hands were raw.  Confetti of all colours rained down on us from above; it was absolutely incredible.

And yes, I know (as our President-Elect himself said) that this is only the start of what will be a long (and potentially painful) road to progress.  I recognize that America (or at least certain parts of her) will probably go kicking and screaming toward progressive ideals.  But in my heart, I hold onto hope that yesterday will go down in history – and in our collective national memory – as the positive, defining moment our country started to change for the better.

So tell me: where were you when Barack Obama was elected president of the United States?  What will you remember about November 4^th, 2008?

“Stuff happens, and it's untidy, and freedom's untidy and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things." – Donald Rumsfeld (about the post-invasion chaos in Iraq)

On Wednesday night last week, Shane and I arrived at Firehall Arts Centre to watch Stuff Happens, our first live theatre experience in Vancouver.  Combining real quotes (from interviews, press conferences, articles, etc.) with imagined dialogue, this play chronicles the lead-up to the Iraq war from inside the Bush and Blair inner circles.

Since we consider ourselves merely amateur political junkies, Shane and I both learned a LOT about the events leading up to the actual invasion; it was great to have someone string together the important moments piece by piece.  And we got some very interesting insight into the possible motives of all the people involved (aside from W. himself, who was hilariously portrayed only as the moronic cowboy he acts like in real life).  But before you go patting us on the back for embracing this three-hour history lesson, I have a confession to make.

The ulterior motive I had in wanting to attend this particular play?  Well, it was the opportunity to see this man play the part of Donald Rumsfeld:

For those of you not schooled in your X-Files mythology, that is Vancouver staple William B. Davis, who played the Cigarette Smoking Man (aka Cancerman) (or, to really display the depths of my nerdiness, CGB Spender) for the duration of the show’s run.  This particular character was a shadowy government figure – the nemesis to Mulder/Scully and Co. – who sought to cover up the ever-elusive Truth.

To say I was amused by the idea of the actor best known for that part now playing the detestable former Secretary of Defense would be an understatement.  Further adding to the entertainment for the evening was the fact that another X-Files alum, Kevin McNulty, took on (brilliantly) the part of Dick Cheney.  McNulty played two small roles on the show, one as Agent Fuller (appearing in “Squeeze” and “Apocrypha”) and another as Dr. Davey (from “Soft Light”).

In fact, once we got home, we I discovered that a good chunk of the cast had played some minor character on X-Files at one point or another (thanks, IMDB!).  Which leads me to believe this was simply the coming-of-age ritual for actors in Vancouver in the 1990s.